Review: The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

Title: The Secret Diamond Sisters
Author: Michelle Madow
Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #1
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Source: received from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

I was really excited about The Secret Diamond Sisters, but it was a huge disappointment. I almost DNF'd this one. Nothing happens. NOTHING! Okay, some things happen, but nothing of interest. I was bored to freaking death! 

Savannah, Courtney, and Peyton are three sisters living in a California Shit hole. Their mother is an alcoholic and is no longer fit to take care of them, and hasn't been for quite some time. Low and behold, they have a long lost Daddy who just so happens to be a billionaire. Shipped off to a new fancy life in Vegas you'd think fairy tale come true right? This was a the most interesting part of the story for me, but it all goes down hill pretty quickly.

The story is told from 4 POVs. It alternates between the three sisters and some snooty socialite who is "oh so jealous" that they are moving into her turf. Then there is the campus buzz, that's a rant for later in the review.

Savannah – She's the youngest of the group. Coming in at a whopping 15. She's excited at the prospect of moving in with their estranged father. She hardly seems to care that she won't see her mother, she only sees dollar signs. Oh and that bottle of champagne in the limo to the airport. She sees that too and helps herself. Did I mention she's 15 and her mother is in rehab, that's the reason she's being sent to live with her father? Yeah..

She's young and naïve' . She quickly falls prey to one of the socialite boy sluts who lives in the same hotel. First night in Vegas and she's already being pressured for sex, which thankfully she doesn't succumb to. Wish I could say the same for the oldest sister.

Courtney- She is the only sister I liked. She's smart and sweet. I really have no complaints about her, other than her shared genes with the other two. She gets involved in a little romance as well, but I was actually rooting for them. If not for Courteys chapters, I would have for sure put this one down indefinitely.

Peyton- She has some issues. She has horrible chip on her shoulder. I seriously disliked her the whole time. She's a bit loose I'd say. She seems to me the type who always has to be dangling a guy. She took the brunt of the abuse from her mother, so maybe that is the reason, but it still didn't make her a likable character. Ugh, and what she does to her boyfriend, just you wait.

Another thing that bugged me is there wasn't any closeness between these sisters. You would think they'd have a tight bond after all they've been through growing up, but I did not see it. 

Also, we get the lovely point of view from Madison. The reigning queen of whatever the F school they will be going to. All this girl does is lead her guy friends on. She's super pissed that her extremely hot male friends are all interested in those horrible Diamond sisters. They are ruining her life!!! (her words) While whining in her head about how bad she has it, she's also counting calories on all the booze she drinks. Because that's important. She's 16, and drinking every freaking night. That's much bigger problem than her dress size if you ask me.

Oh and the campus buzz. This is some weird crap thrown in that looks like a forum. Students from their school posting about all the Vegas parties and such. Then there are comments below. Comments like, "Those Diamond sisters are so hot." "This sluthoe kissed so and so" "Oliver bet that he can get with all three sisters by the end of the Summer" There really is no good way to describe or quote it, so take a look. Sorry for the picture glare, but you get the point. This is just one of the Campus Buzz entries, thankfully there are many more through-out the book. #sarcasm.

GARBAGE!!!! 

So the main plot in The Secret Diamond Sisters is..... Nothing! Just lots of Underage Drinking, Shopping and being excited about how much money they have now (this is all from Savanna), and boy drama / Jealousy. 

That part in the blurb that promises secrets and illusion, ha! Where was that? And the truth about their past? You find that out the first night they get to Vegas. So what was left to keep me reading?.... those three things listed above.

The ending wasn't even anything.  There was a little kerfluffle and then some campus buzz to lead you into the next book. No cliff hanger, just the promise of the same old crap. Did she actually want us to read the sequel? 

I'm still sitting here trying to figure out what this book was even supposed to be about. I will not be continuing this series. The first book was painful enough. 

About the author:

Michelle Madow wrote her first novel, Remembrance, in her junior year of college. Remembrance is the first book in the Transcend Time Saga, a three part series about
reincarnation and true love that Michelle successfully self-published. The series was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. Michelle's upcoming YA trilogy, The Secret Diamond Sisters, about three sisters who discover they are the secret heirs to a Las Vegas billionaire casino owner will be published by Harlequin TEEN in Spring 2014.

Michelle graduated from Rollins College in 2010, cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the International English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta. She received the Charles Hyde Pratt Award for Excellence in Creative Writing in 2010.

She lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is writing more novels for young adults. She loves reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling, shopping, sunshine, Disney fairy tales, Broadway musicals, and spends way too much time on Facebook and Twitter

Find Michelle:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Labels: harlequin-teen, Michelle Madow, reviews, Shopping, The Secret Diamond Sisters, Underage Drinking, Vegas